Toledoan pleads guilty to reckless homicide

Tyrone Hoskins, Jr., 23, sentenced to 3 years in prison

BLADE STAFF

Attorney Ronnie Wingate, left, stands with his client Tyrone Hoskins, Jr., in Lucas County Common Pleas Court as Hoskins is sworn in before pleading guilty today to reckless homicide with a firearms specification in the Feb. 2, shooting death of Michael Williams.THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCHEnlarge
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A Toledo man charged in the shooting death of Michael Williams, Jr., pleaded guilty today to a reduced charge of reckless homicide with a firearm specification.

Tyrone Hoskins, Jr., 23, of 618 Woodland Ave., was then sentenced by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gary Cook to an agreed-upon term of three years in prison.

Hoskins had been charged with murder and participating in a criminal gang, but was allowed to plead guilty to the third-degree felony because of “evidentiary concerns” with the case, said Matt Simko, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor.

Hoskins told the court he was outside an after-hours club in the 1500 block of Ottawa Drive on Feb. 2 when Mr. Williams approached, shooting a gun. He said he hid behind a vehicle and when the car was struck by a bullet, he began firing.

Hoskins said he did not know Mr. Williams – a friend of his – was struck and killed.

“I didn’t know he was killed,” Hoskins said. “I was actually just shooting out of fear.”

Also today, Judge Cook dismissed charges against co-defendant Rishad Williams, who also was accused in Michael Williams’ death.

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